Star-Studded Canada Favoured to Win Gold in Milan

For the first time since 2014, when Canada won gold in Sochi, men’s hockey at the Winter Olympics will feature the world’s best, with NHLers back in the fold after a dozen years. 

Last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off provided a preview of what to expect, with spectacularly tense action wire to wire. As far as the oddsmakers are concerned, it was also a preview as far as the contenders for Olympic gold are concerned – with four countries a cut above the rest ahead of puck drop.

Canada, who have won the last two Olympic tournaments in which the NHL sent its players, lead the way as the favourite to win the gold medal. BET99 has Canada’s best price to win gold at +300. With arguably the three best players in the world in Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar, joined by an era’s defining star in Sidney Crosby and an ahead-of-schedule young star in Macklin Celebrini, it’s easy to see the potential for a dominant team. 

Much like last year, at the 4 Nations, the only true question mark for the Canadians is in the crease. While Jordan Binnington answered the call last time around, this time he'll face competition from Logan Thompson – a perfectly good problem for the favourites to have heading into Milan.

Like last year, Canada will likely face their toughest test from their southern neighbours. After losing on home ice in overtime in last year’s tournament, the USA head to The Games at +175 to win gold for the first time since a Miracle in 1980. 

Trailing the top two favourites is Sweden, who took home gold last time Olympic hockey was played in Italy, in 2006. At +675, the Swedes will look to improve upon a 4 Nations that saw them come close repeatedly – losing to Canada and Finland in overtime, before beating the States to end the round robin.    

Their path may be made more difficult by sharing a group with rivals Finland, who come into Milan at +975. The defending gold medalists are rich in talent but will be without captain Aleksander Barkov, with the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion out for the season.

Making up a pair of longshots, and the only countries with odds shorter than 60/1 to win gold, are Czechia (+2,400) and Switzerland (+2,500). 

Once the knockout rounds arrive, brace for upsets – after all, Canada’s gold medal defense in 2014 was nearly derailed by Latvia. But, if last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off was any indication, Olympic hockey in Milan will bring incredible drama, high-level hockey and, ultimately, a collision course between two of the world’s four best national teams. 

Click here to see Olympic hockey odds at BET99.

Odds as of February 9, 2026.